Jones 2

Chapter 23

Me in 20 Years ~ Moses Sumney 

Find You ~ Charlotte day Wilson 

Pet Shop Eyes ~ The Growlers

CRYSTALS POV// 

Paulinas been oddly interactive with me lately. Instead of her usually intimidated walk she does away from me when she sees me, she waves. I fucking hate that. Honestly, I was hoping to be done with her big high school. Which I'm sure will be the case considering she's Angie's problem. 

Angie told me they started talking again but of course I didn't say anything. I don't approve obviously but I'm not gonna say that to her. If she wants to be wrapped up in the filth that is Paulina then to each her own but she already knows how I feel about it. 

I think it was kind of tacky for Paulina to do that right after Angie's dad passed away, I mean she didn't know but still. What made you want to get back in her life? She would be fine without you if you just let her. This is why I'm so against it. She's moving like a snake and its sketchy as fuck. I talked to Angie about this but she's too passive to want to notice. Her voluntary blindness to the situation is literally the number one red flag to the relationship they've built. 

Anyway, it's really none of my business. I'm going to Angie's tonight for a sleepover just because it's Friday and since we've been going to different schools, meeting up and finding time for each other hasn't been our strength yet. Im pretty sure by junior year we'll be experts but for now its like trying to run across train tracks during rush hour.

School is kinda packed today. It's like there are no absences what the fuck. A public school in the valley and a hot Friday in may is when everyone wants to show up. 

The bell rings and my friends walk me to my locker before leaving for the weekend. Its a mess in here. I decide to take home my P.E clothes for the first time in two weeks to throw them in the washer. Maybe a cup of Unstoppables to help to be honest.

"Hey Crystal!" I hear an oddly annoying familiar voice say from behind me. I put my busted P.E clothes in the random plastic bag I found in the back of my locker and turn around to find Paulina. 

I sigh and look up at her. 

"What." I say shaking my head at her.

"Look, you've been giving me the stink eye since we started school. Can we just like respect each other, man?" she says and sticks her hand out for a hand shake. 

I raise an eyebrow at her hand out in front of me and look back at her smiling face. 

"Uh are you serious? Look, I know you've been hanging around Angie again and listen. I don't like it but she refuses to listen to me so if you're just back to do what you do best and flake then I suggest you skip all of that and flake now." I finalize because I don't really want to sit here and make nice talk with someone I can't stand. 

"I mean, I don't know what Angie told you, but yeah, we're good right now. Everything's good and her dad just died so she needs someone to lean on you know," she shrugs as if that'll lighten the situation

"Yeah but that someone shouldn't be you. You're toxic and manipulative," I say and close my locker. 

"Listen Crystal, I just wanna be good with you like we go to the same school, we should be able to coexist in harmony," she says now following me out of the hallway.

"I get Angie has you enlightened and lifted off your feet or whatever but stop. It's not gonna last long enough for us to ever be friends. I just don't like you" I say finally leaving.